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The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC
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"Hardball with Chris Matthews" airs tonight on MSNBC at 7p, 11p & 4a ET & 4p, 8p & 1a
PT Find MSNBC on your TV http://www.msnbc.com/CableOperator.asp
Let's get right to the marquee name: Rudy Giuliani plays Hardball tonight.
Team Chris Matthews remains in the Big Apple. Watch Chris get into the 9/11
commission and terrorism with Giuliani -- with a healthy dose of Iraq, politics, and
Republican convention talk. The former NYC mayor has his own private consulting firm
and is working to help re-elect President Bush and VP Cheney. He also attended the
Reagan funeral. Some have even speculated Giuliani for CIA Director -- the NY Post
called it "a groundswell of support for Giuliani, a tough manager who won widespread
praise for his leadership in the wake of the 9/11 attacks." What a Rudy awakening
that would be. The perfect guest for tonight's show.
Before getting to Giuliani, Chris will begin with the latest breaking news from Iraq,
including the handover of Saddam and latest casualties. President Bush mentioned all
that in his press conference today. Richard Engel will report from Baghdad. Then
Chris will question a top foreign policy expert, former U.N. Ambassador Richard
Holbrooke -- a Kerry adviser.
Look for this VP Cheney sound bite to make it into tonight's show: "He (Saddam) was a
patron of terrorism. He had long established ties with Al-Qaida." Also watch for
President Bush's response to a question today about Ron Reagan's eulogy: "I think it's
important for people of religion to serve," President Bush said. "I think it is very
important for people who are serving to make sure there's a separation of church and
state."
Also tonight: Chris' MSNBC colleague Bill Press will discuss his new book: "Bush Must
Go: The Top Ten Reasons Why George Bush Doesn't Deserve A Second Term."
Finally, Chris mixes hearty debate and belly laughs with comedian Al Franken, host of
"The O'Franken Factor" on Air America.
Meanwhile, Hardball correspondent David Shuster e-mailed this today: "Here is what
I'm working on for tonight. (We may not have room in the show for a full blown
report... but the elements will make it in somewhere.) The Democratic group,
movon.org, has started a million dollar advertising campaign that seeks to ride the
wave of controversy now surrounding Vice President Cheney and Halliburton. The ad
points out that Cheney's old company was caught by the Pentagon $61 million for
gasoline in Iraq and billed over one hundred million dollars for meals for our troops
that they never delivered. There is no evidence the Vice President knew about the
overcharging or was involved in any way... so the inference is a stretch. But,
Democrats now see the VP as "damaged goods" in part because of earlier statements
about Halliburton that have now been undercut. On Meet the Press (9/13/2003) Cheney
said about Halliburton contracts, "I have absolutely no influence of, involvement of,
knowledge of in any way, shape or form of contracts led by the Corps of Engineers or
anybody else in the federal government." But this week, Time magazine obtained an
internal e-mail written 6 months earlier in which a Pentagon official says "action" on
a multi billion dollar Halliburton contract was "coordinated" by the VP's office.
It's a great story. Hopefully we will have it tonight or tomorrow."
And speaking of Shuster, surely you caught his package yesterday on the purple states.
Shuster went well below the surface. Talk about Deep Purple. Today Shuster sends
this follow-up note to Briefing readers: "My on-air contributions sometimes prompt
some interesting proposals from the Hardball fanatics... and I'll admit to being quite
proud of the racy note a young lady sent me not long ago. However, today I received
something really valuable... a free oil change!!! Yes, it seems that Tom and
Mohammad at the Georgetown Exxon are big fans of the show. They pointed this out to
me yesterday. And this morning, when I picked up my car following some muffler work,
Tom said "I love the purple states. It was a great report. So, the oil change is on
the house." I was flattered, of course, especially since the muffler work seemed a
bit pricey. However, I am now feeling wracked with guilt. After all, I am a devout
follower of our GE NBC/UNI ethics guidelines... I'm hoping that the oil change was
free because I'm a regular... and not because Tom and Mohammad really love the purple
states. But, then again, you never know." Yes, that's our Deep Purple Highway Star,
David Shuster. No Smoke on The Water he. Just ask My Woman From Tokyo.
Meanwhile, Briefing editor Dominic Bellone continues on his well-deserved vacation.
He asked me to keep secret his whereabouts, and I will comply with that request. But
I must confide with you that for some reason I can't get out of my mind super-model
Kathy IRELAND, former Congressman Andy IRELAND, and ex-NOW president Patricia IRELAND.
Perhaps it's got something to do with Dom's trip. Maybe he's in Italy. Or Israel.
Here's what's cooking on the Threat Board (for you Dr. Strangelove fans):
"Cheney: Saddam Had Strong Al-Qaida Ties." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5215019/
Washington Post: "Al Qaeda may have delayed 9/11 attack; Commission finds evidence
pointing to earlier date" http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5211549/
"Bush cautious on handing over Saddam: Iraqi official says ex-dictator could be
charged soon" http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5209099/
"Islamic Conference endorses Iraqi government Support for U.S.-backed leadership could
stem insurgency." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5216701/
Rudy Giuliani on President Reagan: "How This Great Man Restored Our Spirit."
http://www.nypost.com/seven/06112004/news/regionalnews/22780.htm
"Kerry stays on Bush over economy" http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5215744/
Bill Press' book: http://www.billpress.com/
Al Franken's show: http://www.ofrankenfactor.com/
Finally, in yesterday's Briefing we ran the item announcing Courtney Cox's newborn,
Coco Cox (imagine what they'll say about her in high school -- "Look, there goes Hot
Cocoa Cox.") So imagine our giddiness today to see this Jeannette Walls item on
MSNBC.com: "Are Aniston and Pitt expecting a little Friend?"
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5211160/
Keeping in mind that Hollywood loves to embarrass its kids with bizarre names (just
ask Chastity or Dweezil or Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter Apple ), might we recommend a
first name for the littlest Pitt? How about Olive. Or Money. Or if they're into
those fancy Hollywood initials-only names, perhaps BBQ Pitt.
I'm Howard Mortman and I approved this Briefing.
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